QUAD 2017 seeks proposals that capture the essence of social sustainability by addressing the various factors contributing to the three pillars of sustainability: Environment, Economy and Equity. The winning team from Gensler Boston will execute their design [re]ACTIVE at Greenbuild / ArchitectureBoston Expo (ABX 2017)

QUAD 2017 Winner: [re]ACTIVE

[re]ACTIVE distills the essence of the quad and interprets it as a series of open spaces with interactive boundary edges and loosely defined paths; a place that allows users the ability to define their own space within the greater area. The agglomerative impact of these personalized spaces form the overall holistic experience of the pavilion, so that all users contribute to the form and spatial experience at any given moment.

Interactive walls reinvent the traditional New England shingle as a movable, user-engaged tectonic system, constantly shifting, changing, and broadcasting activity from one side of surfaces to the other. The ever-changing skin system, combined with exhibition material and seating areas create layers of engagement which provide myriad opportunities for social interaction.

Runner Up: Colored pavilion

Christophe Cormy, Marilyn Donat, Martine Nicoletti, Edouard Saussac

The pavilion will be built entirely from sustainable materials and re-purposed plastic bags woven into brightly colored, intricate panels. The form and detail of the building will naturally intrigue viewers, enticing them to take a closer look. Upon inspection, visitors will see the familiar logos and brands of their favorite supermarkets and clothing stores, woven into the fabric of our building. The kaleidoscope installation will intrigue, educate, and engage visitors, inspiring them to rethink their habits and redesign their lives. The project will first and foremost demonstrate the power of recycling. Informative write-ups and displays will educate visitors on the production process. The pavilion will serve as an exhibition venue, featuring a report on plastic pollution and a video projection illustrating the stages of construction.

Runner Up: Mirror Mirror

Katie Donahue, Katharina Hoerath,

The more we learned about waste and recycling the more we realized being green isn’t as obviously green as it seems... or in some cases, even green at all. It reminded us of unique vibrant pink lakes in places like Utah and Australia. While they look might look bright and unnatural, they are in fact the environment’s response to high salt levels and they are habitats to bacteria that thrive in otherwise harsh environments. We didn’t want our walls to suggest green washing. We wanted them to suggest a new type of investigation into what it could mean to be green - to come together to improve our planet, and to do it through fun and playful ways. Pink is the new green

Mirror Walls reflects on suggested themes that walls can be the things that bring us together rather than divide us, and that they can be a platform for dialog that becomes an agent for change and improvement, growth and development, forward progress – regarding the way we consume resources and the way we look at ourselves and one another.